UCF routs FIU behind Bortles

MIAMI — The scoreboard found it difficult to keep up with UCF, malfunctioning early in the game when it showed the Knights leading Florida International 87-0.

Though the game wasn't quite that lopsided, Blake Bortles threw for 219 yards and a touchdown and the Knights improved to 2-0 for only the second time since 1999 by winning 38-0 Friday night (see summary, 6C).

"We did some good things on offense," Bortles said. "It was a good performance, a good win."

Storm Johnson ran for 89 yards and three scores. Florida International (0-2) totaled 173 yards, averaged 1.1 yards per rush and was shut out for the first time since 2008.

Bortles went 12 for 19 in three quarters. Rannell Hall had four catches for 127 yards, all in the first half to help the Knights build a 24-0 lead.

"You've got to stay on top of people and keep your foot on the gas, and I thought we did," coach George O'Leary said.

The Knights avenged a September loss two years ago at FIU that sent their season into a tailspin.

"That was a sour taste in our mouths," Bortles said. "We wanted to make sure that didn't happen again, and we took care of business."

The Knights, who face Penn State next, have outscored their opponents 76-7. FIU has been outscored 81-10.

"One thing we are not going to do is we are not going to panic," first-year Panthers coach Ron Turner said. "We believe in our team, believe in our players. We have to stay the course."

Bortles was efficient from the start. He ran for a first down on third and 15, then capped the drive with a 1-yard sneak for a TD. He threw long to Hall for a 59-yard gain to set up the final TD of the first half. Johnson, a transfer, scored on runs of 2, 15 and 2 yards.

BC 24, Wake Forest 10: Andre Williams ran 35 times for 204 yards and a TD, and cornerback Bryce Jones had an interception and a fumble recovery for the host Eagles (2-0, 1-0 ACC). Alex Amidon caught five passes for 93 yards and a touchdown for BC, which matched its victory total from last season, when Frank Spaziani was fired as coach and replaced by former Florida assistant Steve Addazio. Michael Campanaro caught five passes for 86 yards and a touchdown for Wake Forest (1-1, 0-1).

Colorado: Backup quarterback Jordan Webb was sentenced to two years of probation for a May fight that left an Air Force Academy cadet unconscious. Webb, 22, also was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service and get alcohol treatment, the Daily Camera of Boulder reported.

North Carolina State: Pete Thomas will make his first start at quarterback for the Wolfpack tonight against Richmond. He replaces Brandon Mitchell, who broke his foot in the first quarter of the opener last week against Louisiana Tech.

Syracuse: Senior wide receiver Adrian Flemming is out for the season with a lower body injury, collegefootballtalk.com reported. A school release did not specify the nature of the injury, only that he's expected to have surgery this weekend.

Florida State starting offensive tackle Josh Ball faces a university suspension after a Title IX investigation found him responsible for dating violence.The suspension came to light in a Facebook post Monday afternoon by Sandra Sellers, an FSU studen...

TAMPA — Florida State coach Willie Taggart fielded an interesting question near the end of his Q&A with fans during Sunday's booster stop at Armature Works.Are the Seminoles going to be going for it more on fourth down?"We will be goin...

One of the first big nuggets from preseason college football magazines is out: Athlon's top 25.The site considers its rankings a prediction of where teams will be at the end of the year, not the beginning.Alabama and Clemson are 1-2 (no shock). Miami...

TAMPA — After spending four years as USF’s football coach, Willie Taggart knows what to expect this time of year in the area, so it’s no surprise how he began a chat with reporters Sunday before a booster stop at Armature Works."Go Lightning," he sai...

TAMPA – After spending four years as USF's football coach, Willie Taggart knows what to expect this time of year in the area, so it's no surprise how he began a chat with reporters Sunday before a booster stop at Armature Works."Go Lightning," ...

Old, unofficial news is expected to become old, official news today with a formal announcement that Florida State and Boise State are kicking off the 2019 season in Jacksonville. A lot has changed since the schools announced the series (FSU pla...

What had been an open secret for months is now open and shut: Group of Five power Boise State will face FSU at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville in the teams' 2019 opener.A formal announcement is expected Wednesday, but the '19 schedule on Boise's offi...

TAMPA — He’s the accidental pitcher who can’t be pigeonholed into a defined role. He’s a well-spoken economics major who morphs into fire-breathing intensity on the mound. And he’s one of the biggest reasons why the University of Tampa Spartans are p...

One of the Florida Gators' top incoming recruits was released from jail early Wednesday after police allege he kicked a female's car and broke her phone after an argument.Justin Watkins — a four-star athlete from Clermont — and ...